Improvement in hernial trusses



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ROBERT LANGWOBTHY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT INV HEPLNIAL TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,050, dated March 31, 1863.

T0 all'wtom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT LANGwoR'rHY, M. D., of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Hernial Truss; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional plan or top view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate corresponding parts.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A represents the bow of my truss, which is made of a narrow strip of sheet-steel or any other suitable material. One end of this bow terminates in a pivot, a,which is bent up parallel with the end of the bow, and which lits into a socket in an arm, b, extending from and rmly secured to the back or iiat surface of the pad B.

C is the adj usting-spring, which is secured to the bow by a screw, c, and that portion of the bow which is situated between the adjusting-screw c and the pivot a is tempered or otherwise hardened so as to form the basespring A of the pad.

The arm b, to which the pad is fastened, extends beyond the pivot a, and its end is ex posed to the action of the adjusting-spring O, as clearly shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The connection between the spring and arm may be made by a hook at the end of the spring catching in an aperture in the end of the arm, or it may be effected in any other desirable manner. I prefer, however, to have the connection between the adjustingspring and arm b made in such a manner that the pad can easily be taken 0E and reversed when it is desired to change the truss from right to left, or vice versa.

The arm b is so shaped and connected to the pad that on applying the truss to the body the pad acts up and back right in the direction of the inguinal canal. By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be noticed that both springs A and C act in the same direction (n the pad, which will be easily understood by throwing the pad laterally in the direction cf arrow 1. The adjusting-spring is thereby forced in the direction of arrow 2 and the basespring in the direction of arrow 3, giving to the pad considerably more elasticity than could conveniently be accomplished with one spring and, furthermore, by the combined action ot' the two springs a powerful action is impartrd to the pad with comparatively limber springs, thereby preserving that softness in said action which it is desirable to accomplish, and which cannot possibly be attained with a singie powerful spring.

The pad of my truss is made of india-rubber or other suitable material, and the arm b carries the button-screw d, to which the cover is attached. In reversing the truss the arm b has to be taken oft from the pad and reversed, and the button-screw has to be taken out and to be inserted into the opposite side of said arm. The action of the pad and of the springs in either case remains the same.

I do not claim as my invention the application of two springs to a truss-pad, su'ch having been previously accomplished, but in a manner entirely different from mine; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The' arrangement of the two springs A C and pad B, as set forth, so as to give the pad upward and oblique pressure, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

ROBT. LANGWORTHY.

Witnesses:

M. S. PARTRIDGE, DANIEL ROBERTSON. 

